Skywatch - No 23 - 1972 12-19 73 01-02

Magazine Overview

Title: Skywatch
Issue: No. 23
Date: December 1972 / January-February 1973
Publisher: Skywatch
Country: South Africa
Type: Quarterly of Contact (S A)

This issue of Skywatch, a publication focused on UFOs and related phenomena, features an editorial reflecting on the spiritual versus materialistic aspects of Christmas, an article by Brinsley Le Poer Trench discussing extraterrestrial contact and human origins, and a section announcing the formation of a new 'Contact' group.

Editorial: The Spiritual Reality of Christmas

The editorial contrasts the common materialistic expression of Christmas, marked by increased traffic, busy shops, and gift-giving, with its deeper spiritual meaning. It reflects on the age-old message of the Father sending his son to atone for sins and offer a new life. The author posits that humanity, at the time of Christ's birth, operated at a low level of understanding, primarily driven by sense-perception. Concepts that could not be understood were relegated to 'faith,' which itself became material. The Messiah was largely seen as a deliverer from Roman occupation, with the spiritual reality of liberation missed. The editorial argues that Christ's mission was to free humanity from a scattered consciousness, and that true understanding allows one to return to 'I AM.' Christmas is presented as a time for the rebirth of unified consciousness. The author suggests that right Christian knowledge can guide individuals back to cosmic citizenship and that dedication to the ideal of 'at-one-ment' can raise individual vibration. The possibility of humans walking and talking with 'etheric ones' is raised, questioning if these beings, if they adopted human concepts of separation, would also become suspended. The piece concludes by hoping readers find greater understanding and embrace a pathway of love, confidence, and strength in universal Unity.

You and Me: Contact with Extraterrestrial Civilizations

Brinsley Le Poer Trench's article begins by referencing a London Daily Telegraph article by Kenneth Gatland titled "Is There Anyone Up There Like Us?" Gatland's feature mentioned Professor Zdenek Kopal of the University of Manchester. A quote from Professor Kopal, featured on the magazine's cover, expresses extreme caution regarding contact with alien civilizations. Kopal states that evolutionary differences of thousands or even millions of years are insignificant on a cosmic scale, making intellectual understanding with other civilizations highly improbable. He warns that the risks of such an encounter would vastly outweigh any benefit and could be fatal, advising against answering any signals or drawing attention from them.

In contrast, Dr. K. A. Ehricke of North American Rockwell Corporation offers a different perspective, viewing encounters with alien civilizations as potentially elevating, stimulating, and interesting, rather than degrading. He suggests that such encounters would challenge the notion of human uniqueness.

Trench then addresses Kopal's viewpoint, interpreting it as a recommendation to avoid contact. He argues that while humanity may appear as 'primitive savages' to advanced races, this is confirmed by daily news of wars, violence, and moral decadence. Despite these drawbacks, Trench contends that the 'Sky People' are friendly, stemming from a parental association dating back eons. He believes these beings have been observing and guiding humanity within 'Cosmic Law' to prepare them for integration into a galactic civilization.

He refutes the idea that the 'Sky People' are making a 'mess' or that they should intervene directly to solve human problems, citing 'Cosmic Law' as a constraint. Trench suggests that these beings are far more advanced and possibly immortal, having overcome death. He references astronomer Fred Hoyle's speculation about a 'Galactic directory' where humanity needs to get its name listed.

Trench asserts his belief that humanity was 'seeded' from outer space, proposing that Darwin's theory of evolution was too rapid for mankind's development. He cites Otto O. Binder, who quotes Max H. Flindt. Flindt argues that man's sudden appearance and his ten billion neurons suggest a planned hybrid origin, a cross between super-intelligent 'starmen' and Earth creatures, rather than natural evolution. Binder agrees, suggesting 'skymen' engineered man's brain in an ancient breeding experiment.

Trench connects this idea to ancient scriptures like Genesis, which speak of 'Sons of God' mingling with human daughters, suggesting a global folklore of god-like beings descending and fraternizing with mortals.

He then elaborates on the 'shots in the arm' given by the Sky People, citing historical incidents. He mentions the legendary St. Germain and a significant 'flap' of UFO sightings in 1897 over the USA, involving dirigibles flying at 1,000 m.p.h., far exceeding Count Von Zeppelin's craft speed of 18 m.p.h. in 1909. Trench suggests these were demonstrations of what humanity could achieve. He also notes cigar-shaped UFOs seen in 1909 over the UK and New Zealand, and 'winged aircraft' in Scandinavia in 1932, impervious to storms. The 'Ghost Rockets' over Finland and Sweden in 1946 are also mentioned as encouragement for space flight. Trench concludes that the Sky People are trying to lead humanity to the stars and postulates they are capable of using ESP.

He addresses Kopal's argument again, suggesting Kopal overlooks the possibility of humanity being 'planted' on Earth. Trench believes a galactic civilization, millions of years advanced, would have eliminated fighting and wars. He concludes by noting that science fiction's portrayal of robots has evolved, and they now bypass the need to look human.

In Passing

This section reports on UFO sightings in South Africa during June and July of the current year, coinciding with International Skywatching Week, which included attempts at telepathic communication with 'Space Brothers.' The author questions the success of these attempts and emphasizes the need for self-improvement to achieve such communication, citing the principle of 'like attracts like.'

The article then discusses Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) and telepathy, referencing experiments by Sir Hubert Wilkins and Harold Sherman in 1937. Wilkins, commissioned to rescue a crashed Russian flight in the Arctic, conducted a six-month telepathy experiment with Sherman in New York, who successfully received thought messages.

Sherman's book, "How to make ESP work for you," is recommended for those interested in telepathic communication. His suggestions include developing the ability to control one's feelings under all conditions, which is presented as a difficult but necessary assignment for maintaining balance and harmony, especially on the spiritual path.

Sherman states that uncontrolled emotions like fear, worry, or desire can create illusions. Disciplining the mind and emotions reduces this possibility, enabling better evaluation of impressions. He believes that if humanity controls its feelings through its mind, a world of wonders and beauty will emerge. The section ends with a reflection on the potential joy and fellowship of telepathic communication with 'elder brothers' and poses the question of achieving peace between worlds without first achieving peace within oneself.

Welcome to the Club!

This section announces the formation of a new 'Contact' group in Cape Town. It extends a warm welcome from Headquarters and other branches to this new sister group. The Cape Town Branch, launched in August, is chaired by Mr. Andre Nestel and, despite a small initial membership, is expected to grow. The announcement wishes the members joy and fulfillment in their work in the U.F.O. field.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Skywatch revolve around the nature of consciousness, the potential for extraterrestrial contact, and the spiritual evolution of humanity. The magazine presents a perspective that challenges conventional scientific and religious views, suggesting a cosmic origin for humanity and a guiding influence from advanced extraterrestrial beings ('Sky People'). There is a strong emphasis on spiritual understanding over materialism, and the development of inner consciousness and telepathic abilities as pathways to higher states of being and integration with a galactic community. The editorial stance is one of advocating for a deeper, spiritual interpretation of existence and embracing the possibility of a broader cosmic context for humanity's place in the universe.

This issue of "Saga" magazine, dated June 1972, features an adapted article titled "MONUMENTS TO U.F.O. SPACE PIONEERS"? that delves into the unsolved mysteries of the Pyramids, particularly the Great Pyramid of Cheops. The magazine is noted for regularly printing articles on UFOs.

The Pyramids: Unsolved Mysteries and Alternative Theories

The article challenges the conventional understanding of how the Great Pyramid of Cheops, estimated to have been built 5,000 years ago, was constructed. It highlights its immense scale: a square base covering 13 acres, an original height of 485 feet, and over 2.5 million building blocks weighing from 3 to 90 tons, with some up to 600 tons. The author notes that this pyramid contains more masonry than all churches in England built since Christ's birth.

An Arab historian, Abu-Zeyd-el-Balkhy, is cited as reporting ancient inscriptions suggesting the pyramids were built around 73,000 years ago, during the time the 'lyre' constellation was in Cancer. This contrasts with the scientific consensus that the pyramid was built during the reign of Cheops, with stones hand-carved and transported by slave labor.

The article dismisses the theory of primitive people building the pyramids, questioning the tools and methods required to chisel and dress millions of granite blocks, some requiring a minimum pressure of two tons. It further questions the logistics of transporting 2.5 million blocks to Giza using wooden rollers, estimating a need for approximately 26 million rollers and the largest fleet in history, especially since Egypt lacked forests. The sheer manpower required, estimated at a million men, along with accommodation, transport, and feeding, is presented as disproportionate to the 20 million people living in Egypt at the time.

Alternative Interpretations of the Pyramids' Purpose

Ibynek Zaba, an Egyptologist, is mentioned for his monograph "Astronomical orientation in ancient Egypt and the precision of the world's axis." He proposed that the pyramids were not tombs but permanent monuments containing the science, technology, and theology of the ancient world.

Cosmic Ray Research at the Pyramids

Dr. Luis Alverez, a Nobel Prize winner in Physics, developed a method to measure cosmic rays passing through the pyramids at Giza. The goal was to locate unknown passages and chambers by analyzing the pattern of cosmic ray penetration. If the pyramid were solid, the pattern would be uniform; deviations would indicate the presence of vaults. This research, costing over a million dollars and involving thousands of man-hours, utilized an IBM 1120 computer delivered to Ein Shams University near Cairo.

Dr. Amr Gohed, in charge of the installation at Ein Shams University, shared cosmic ray recordings with Roy Norton. He noted that some recordings showed patterns that defied known laws of science and electronics. When asked for an explanation, Dr. Gohed suggested either a substantial error in the pyramid's geometry or a mystery beyond explanation, possibly involving occultism, the curse of the Pharaohs, sorcery, or magic—a force at work that defies science, similar to the forces used in construction.

Theories on Construction Methods

Dr. Gunther Rosenberg, founder and past president of the European Occult Research Society, suggested vibrational energy as a possibility, citing folklore and Arabic traditions that claim music and sound were used to build the pyramids.

Dr. Francois Lenormant, in "Chaldean Magic and Sorcery," recounts ancient beliefs in occult powers, where priests could raise storms and transport stones through the air using magical words.

Herodotus, the ancient Greek historian, is mentioned for his account of Egyptian traditions, including the display of 341 statues of high priests, indicating a possible 12,000 years of priestly rule and a belief that Gods lived with Egyptians in the first generation.

Arabic myths about "great white birds" descending from the heavens and "celestial" chariots taking ancient kings are also referenced, potentially explaining Ra, the Sun God, and solar worship.

The article speculates on whether ancient civilizations possessed knowledge of anti-gravity, given that world governments are currently trying to solve gravity secrets with electromagnetic, anti-gravity devices. This lost knowledge is presented as a possibility that sounds like UFO phenomena.

Sightings Over South Africa

The magazine includes a report from Mr. Eady of Knysna about a UFO sighting in South Africa during July. A farmer in the Kei Road area spotted a UFO and alerted his brother. They observed an object resembling one seen at Fort Beaufort, moving low on the ground. Later, they saw a different, luminous, cigar-shaped object over Gonubie Heights with five portholes, followed by a blank space, and then four more ports. This object remained stationary until the blank space suddenly glowed, and a smaller object on the ground flew at great speed to enter it. The two men observed this from midnight until 3 a.m. through binoculars.

Flying Saucer Message Book Review

A review of Rex Dutta's latest book, "Flying Saucer Message," is presented. The book is described as different and is based on the author's experience in a 1971 broadcast in England where he discussed UFOs. During the broadcast, a call came through claiming to be from Outer Space, which is considered the essence of the book. The "Message" suggests that beings among us would guide humanity, but emphasizes that every creature must help itself and use its own intelligence. It predicts trouble on Earth but offers hope if Man finds justice.

A short poem about a rocket explorer named Wright, who traveled faster than light and returned the previous night, is also included.

Meetings for the Next Few Months

Information is provided for upcoming meetings in Durban, Johannesburg, East London, and Cape Town, scheduled from December 1972 to February 1973. Contact persons and addresses are listed for each city, along with a general correspondence address for the Secretary in Durban.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores topics related to UFOs, ancient mysteries, and alternative historical interpretations. The editorial stance appears to be open to unconventional theories, presenting evidence and speculation that challenge mainstream scientific and historical narratives. There is a clear interest in ancient civilizations, their advanced knowledge, and potential extraterrestrial connections, as well as contemporary UFO sightings and their implications.